Death toll rises in wake of Midwest tornadoes

March 4, 2012 (CHICAGO)

The search for survivors continued on Sunday.

Twisters touched down in 10 states, including Indiana, where at least 12 people died. According to reports, 95 tornadoes may have touched down in the last few days.

Millions of people experienced the severe weather. Rescuers continued Saturday to sift through the rubble. Sadly, they are finding more bodies.

The string of violent storms stretched from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast and destroyed small towns.

In southern Indiana, the twisters were caught on tape, and residents described what they saw.

"I looked up and saw debris everywhere and the next thing I knew, I thought it was a dream," storm victim Brandy Burton said.

In Henryville, Ind., the winds of up to 175 miles per hour tore the roof off the local high school, and picked up a school bus and whipped it into a local restaurant. The 400 students inside the school were not harmed.

In Kentucky, the National Guard and state police headed out to search wreckage in hopes of finding more people, dead or alive.

And a tornado in Alabama stayed on the ground for at least 10 miles.

The most recent storms came just as the downstate community of Harrisburg, Ill. was preparing to say its final goodbyes this weekend to the six people killed in a tornado that hit that town on Wednesday.

The funerals for Jaylynn Ferrell, 22, 74-year-old Linda Hull and 75-year-old Mary Osman were scheduled Saturday.

On Sunday, services are planned for Randy Rann, 64, and his wife, 61-year-old Donna Rann, . as well as 50-year-old Greg Swierk.

Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.